Geography

A big and diverse course, if you are comfortable writing essays this is a subject for you.

With seven or more essays to be written, timing is crucial in the written exam. It's really important that you keep an eye on the clock and avoid the temptation to run over time perfecting one essay at the cost of not finishing your last question. The examiner will be looking for SRPs (single relevant points) in your essay. A SRP can be described as a "single meaty statement", a sentence or paragraph with one clear and true point. At higher level, an SRP is worth 2 marks so a typical 30-mark essay will need at least 15 SRPs. The Geographical Investigation is usually submitted in April of 6th year and is worth 20% of the final grade.

Higher Level Course Content:

Aerial photos
Earthquakes & Volcanoes
Economic - Developing Economies
Economic - Energy
Economic - Environmental impact
Economic - European Union
Economic - Multinationals & Globalisation
Elective - Economic
Elective - Human
Glaciation
Human - Population
Human - Urban Geography
Karst Regions
Mapwork
Option - Atmosphere & Ocean
Option - Culture & Identity
Option - Geoecology
Option - Global Interdependence
Plate Tectonics
PROJECT - Investigation
Regions - Continental
Regions - European
Regions - Ireland
Rivers
Rocks, Weathering & Mass Movement
Tables/Graphs Questions
The Sea
Urban Land uses
Weather & Climate

Ordinary Level Course Content:

Aerial photos
Earthquakes & Volcanoes
Economic - Developing Economies
Economic - Environmental impact
Economic - Ireland & the EU
Economic - Multinationals & Globalisation
Elective - Economic
Elective - Human
Glaciation
Graph style questions
Human - Population
Human - Urban Geography
Karst Regions
Mapwork
Plate Tectonics
PROJECT - Investigation
Regions - Continental
Regions - European
Regions - Ireland
Rivers
Rocks, Weathering & Mass Movement
The Sea
Weather & Climate

Assessment

Geographical Investigation Report (20%)
Written Examination (80%)

The Exam

There is one written paper for both Higher and Ordinary levels, which lasts for 2 hours and 50 minutes. There are three parts to the written paper.

Part One

Twelve short questions where you will be marked out of your best ten. (25 mins, 80 marks)

Part Two

Essay style questions where you have a choice of ONE question from three in each section. Spend no more than 30 mins on each question (80 marks).

Section 1: Physical Geography (Q1, Q2, Q3 - Pick one)
Section 2: Regional Geography (Q4, Q5, Q6 - Pick one)
Section 3: Human Elective (Q7, Q8, Q9 - Pick one) OR Economic Elective (Q10, Q11, Q12 - Pick one)
Section 4: Options (Questions 13-24) - Higher level only. You will be given 4 questions on your chosen option and you pick one. Each question will require you to write a single longer essay where you discuss three or four aspects of the theme in detail in 30 minutes (80 marks)

Geographical Investigation Report

The SEC will publish a list of topics and students will report on a geographical investigation based on one of these topics.

Future Careers with Leaving Certificate Geography

Some Universities accept Geography as a Science subject. Future careers include; Earth Scientist, Planner, Environmental Science, and Fishing Industry.

Geography

Topics

Past Papers

Community Activity